$2.6 Million Paid In Joliet Clergy Abuse Cases

Bishop Reveals Costs To Diocese

NBC5.com/January 13, 2003

Chicago -- The Joliet Catholic Diocese has revealed that it has paid more than $2.6 million to people who claim they were sexually abused by priests.

The disclosure came in a five-page letter from Bishop Joseph Imesch (pictured) distributed to the diocese's 132 parishes and missions over the weekend.

The letter says the diocese has paid about $1.7 million and its insurance companies have paid about $936,000 to settle claims since 1983.

The diocese's communications director, John Cullen, said the payouts involve 13 cases.

Imesch also says in the letter that the diocese will no longer hold anyone to confidentiality agreements.